When Jeff Najar, President of Biker Pros, asked me to step in for him at the Ultimate Builder Custom Bike Show in Minneapolis I had no idea that I would find a set of pipes that would blow me away… Dana Hallberg of Deadline Customs was rocking a 2010 Road Glide with a set of 2 into 1 Fat Cat pipes. When I picked up my 2010 Victory Vision 8-Ball I got on the horn to Najar to find out what D&D had available.He hooked me up with Dave Rash, D&D’s Pope of Pipe, and before you knew it I had a set of D&D slipons at the Aeromach USA facilities in Charlotte, NC. The following is how I installed the pipes.The procedure takes about an hour and a half with the removal and installation of six bolts and two clamps. It’s as simple as that!
The Vision 8 Ball with new D&D slip-ons.The hardest part of the job was dealing with the body panels below the saddle bags. You have to remove the panels to access two of the muffler mounting bolts on each side. It would probably have been easier to remove the saddlebag lids first but I did not want to deal with alignment issues going back together.
1. These simple hand tools, some patience, and about 90 minutes are all you will need to get your D&D slip-on mufflers installed. Remember that Victory uses metric fasteners. D&D supplies new nuts to mount the mufflers but remember to retain the rubber dampeners, washers and spacers for re-install.
2. This handy trim tool for car interiors will help remove the 3 retaining clips behind the head pipe that hold the trim on.
>3. Gently pry the pins from the clips on the two clips holding the trim panels in place behind the rear head pipe. The pins easily come out of the clips to be sure to keep them in a safe place.
4. This is one of the two plastic retainer clips removed behind the rear head pipe that eases removal of the body trim parts to access the nuts holding on the mufflers.
5. This is the trim piece held in place with the two plastic clips. Note that it snaps in place using “slots” and “tabs”.
6. Once you have removed the two plastic clips and the trim piece you can remove the allen head bolts that hold on the trim piece below the saddlebag lids. A little patience is required when removing this panel. Open the saddlebag lid to access the remaining bolts and snap loose the rear panel covering the rearmost portion of this trim panel.
7. Once you snap this rear panel loose and get the lower trim panel removed close the saddlebag lid and slide a rag in between the panels to protect the paint. This panel holds the rear most part of the lower trim panel in place.
8. The first of two nuts, this one just above the rear tip over protection is removed. The stud is welded to the stock muffler. Be sure to retain the grommets, washers and spacers for the reinstall. New hardware is included with the mufflers.
9. Be sure to retail the rubber grommets, spacers and washers from your factory pipes for installation on the D&D mufflers. New nuts and bolts are supplied. This is the front most stud on the right side of the bike.
10. Once you’ve loosened the heatshield clamp and the muffler clamp (shown) you just work the stock mufflers off by twisting and pulling. In this picture you can see the clamp removed and the front most mounting stud that you removed the nut from earlier.
11. Here is a picture of the right side muffler removed. Notice the stud to the left and the bracket where the bolt is installed to the right. The stud is the rear most stud of the two. When you do the install you will start with the bolt to the rear and work forward.
12. Here’s a comparison of the new slip-on installed and the factor part removed. Notice the difference in the slash. The factory slash is along the horizontal plane while the D&D slash goes along the vertical plane matching the lines of the saddlebags!Don’t Forget About Your ChromeThe new mufflers are chrome finished parts, not cans with heat shields like the originals. The finish is flawless and the look is perfect. The slash cut on the mufflers is on the vertical plane as opposed to the horizontal like the factory so they look like they’re going fast before you’re even moving. The slash cut lines up with the body line at the rear of the saddlebags.Be sure to follow the cleaning instructions to get off all the finger prints before you fire it up or you’ll have permanent ugly decorations on the mufflers.The D&D ToneOnce you hear the bike come to life you will know you’ve made the right choice. My bike sounds like a whole new machine. It now has a low sweet rumble that won’t deafen you or your riding buddies that will be sure to fall behind you!
Check Out the Tone
<iframe width=”560″ height=”349″ src=”http://www.youtube.com/embed/Wn0IeBaJcvw” frameborder=”0″ allowfullscreen></iframe>
